Scammers After Elderly People

[MA-Caver]

It's bad enough when scammers bilk money out of 30-40 somethings but worse when they target the elderly. This story about how 2 well dressed women bilked a woman out of $13,000.00 in cash with a cleverly devised scam.

A strong warning Friday from Hamilton County Sheriff Jim Hammond, who said senior citizens need to be cautious about strangers claiming they've found a wallet full of cash.

An 87-year-old Chattanooga woman was recently bilked out of $13,000 using one of the oldest tricks in the books.
The victim was so scared and so embarrassed, she didn't call police right away. But after talking with a neighbor she filed a police report the day after the crime.
"This is an ongoing scam and there's probably people out on the street that are trying to hit with it as we speak," Sheriff Hammond said.

"She was so befuddled, didn't know if she was going to be robbed, and one of the ladies took her pocket book and started going through it and pulled out her credit cards and phone, Sheriff Hammond said.
The scammers coerced the victim to call her bank on her own mobile phone to find out how much cash she could get on a credit card advance. When they got to Regions bank the women appeared to have gone inside, then came back telling the victim she needed to get $500 cash.
Sgt. Weary said the victim then drove to her bank to get the money. When she got back to Regions the women said they need more cash. The victim then went back to her bank and withdrew $5,000 cash and got an $8,000 advance on her credit card.
full story here: http://www.newschannel9.com/news/victim-1004882-sheriff-hammond.html

Sheriff's advice to lay on the horn until the scammers go away is a good one. Likewise I add that if at home then to get on the phone and call 911 and report a robbery in progress. Yet the elderly are so easy to target because they're easily hoodwinked by charm and if that doesn't work, intimidation.
There is a need to educate the elderly and for their families to help them understand not to do anything financially with anyone they do not know, and even if they do know the person(s) to still consult family members ... if they too are honest and care for their relatives.